MEMOIRS

The Nineties were years when India was beginning to recognise the importance of tourism as an economic activity and growth engine. Kerala, which was a hidden treasure in tourism, began to unveil itself and realised the need for educated, trained professionals in hospitality – because of the growing employment opportunities created in the sector.

This scenario led to the establishment of the first Institute of Hotel Management in the state of Kerala in 1990, though Kerala was one of the first states to have a Food Craft Institute from the Sixties.

It all began with a telephone call by Mr. B.K. Goswami, the then D.G. Tourism GOI, asked me while I was Principal of Mumbai IHM, whether I was willing to come to Trivandrum and help with setting up of an IHM. Rest is history. With the support of Mrs. Renu Dhar, Dy. D.G. Tourism GOI and the trinity of a dynamic team of tourism stalwarts consisting of Mr. Babu Paul as Commissioner & Secretary Tourism, Mr. Jaykumar as Director Tourism & Mr. Balakrishnan as MD of KTDC under the minister-ship of Shri. Srinivasan undertook the mission of establishing IHM Trivandrum on a war footing. Within 51-plus days of landing in Trivandrum, classes of the 1st batch commenced and late Ms. Thangam Philip, the legendary Principal of IHM Mumbai addressed the students with a batch of 60.

Mrs. Mullens, the then Principal of Madras IHM, joined me on the first visit to identify the location of the Institute and extended great help by deputing Mr. Thimmaya, the then Senior Food Production Instructor of IHM Chennai, to help with the project. Mr. Thimmaya, a very dedicated educator par excellence laboured day and night to make the project a reality and took special classes in the early stages.

Pradeep Ramachandran, who was then Manager at Pankaj Hotel, an alumnus of IHM Mumbai was a great help from day one. Pradeep’s father Mr. Ramachandran, who was a retired Director of Tourism, was the one who pointed out the Kovalam site. Mr. Babu Paul, on the telephone with Mr. Philipose Thomas, the then chairman of Trivandrum Development Authority, who was out of state on duty, was able to obtain the sanction for the use of the two buildings that existed there, which was built as Tourist Excursion Centre, lying unused, consisting of one building with a sinking foundation and a thatched roof dining hall building. Though the original GOI plan was for an intake of 30 students, because of the overwhelming number of applications, the intake was doubled to 60. Recruited faculty who became the pillars of the academic activity. They were Mr. Mirza, Mr. Siddique, Ms. Karthiyayani and Mr. Pradeep Ramachandran and Jolly. Mr. Hariharan was our first PA till Mr. Namboodri joined. Thanks to Kuwait War Mr. Alexander returned to Kerala and joined as our A.O. Mr. Sabu as store keeper, Mr. Rajan the all-purpose attendant. Late Mr. Nair became our outstanding maintenance, gardening expert.

Mr. Thankappan a great driver. Early stage, Tourism Department Thycaud Guest House was the temporary office from which we operated. The local community was most cooperative and appreciative of our efforts. Can’t forget the carpenter who made a number of furniture. Can’t forget many suppliers from Trivandrum and Cochin.

Mr. Joseph, Supdt. Engineer of CPWD Trivandrum was a great help. Mr. Kaleeswaran, the then Chairman of KSEB sanctioned and installed a 11 KV Transformer and power supply within a few days.

Mr. Thomas Joseph, a practicing Chartered Accountant from Kochi, greatly helped with the setting up of the accounting system.

KIITS and Mr. Ashish Kumar was a great support. Mr. James Varghese the then registrar of Agricultural University sanctioned faculty from the Agriculture College for teaching Nutrition Course. The new building project was sanctioned within a few months and funds released and construction work began. Mr. Gupta (PWD chief architect) based at Chennai took a lot of interest and produced a fine design after visiting several Institutes and Hotels.

We began small. We were beautiful.

The very first batch was interviewed by the Taj Group, Oberoi, CGH, ITDC, KTDC, etc. The hoteliers at Trivandrum and Kovalam area were a great help. The Haute Club, formed consisting of Hoteliers in the area, worked very closely with the Institute.

When I moved on, Mrs. Nalini Netto, the then Tourism Director was very kind to take over additional charge as Principal. Can’t forget the many excellent Chairmen with whom I was privileged to work, Mr. Babu Paul, Mr. Krishnamoorthy, Mr. Mohandas. Still remember the words of Mr. Krishnamoorthy while addressing a batch of final-year students. He said, “To whom much is given, much is required”.

The Tourism Department, KTDC, KITTS and other related bodies were very co-operative and recognised the value of working closely with the Institute on various matters. Mr. Ashish Kumar, Director of KITTS became a good friend.

Fandango, as an annual event, not merely as a food and fun fair, but as a multi-faceted event for college students, including participation from other city colleges became a great learning opportunity. Various student clubs under the guidance of teachers became an excellent platform for developing talents and gifts. Luncheon speeches guided by Nirmala was a great boost to developing effective communication skills.

Cannot forget a Kerala high tea hosted at the campus during children’s film festival with Jaya Bachchan in the midst of the children.

ITDC Mr. Thomas as GM was a great support. The Vizhinjam telephone exchange was kind to give a telephone line within a short time.

We learned together, laboured together, leisured together. No strikes or bandhs of Kerala ever affected us. We were productive, and progressed and prospered together peacefully.

Thanks be to God who gave us the victory.